U.S. patent application number 11/902320 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for information access apparatus, information processing apparatus, information access program storage medium, information access method, and information processing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fujitsu Limited of Kawasaki, Japan. Invention is credited to Masatoshi Kimura.
Application Number | 20080183654 11/902320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39669072 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080183654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kimura; Masatoshi |
July 31, 2008 |
Information access apparatus, information processing apparatus,
information access program storage medium, information access
method, and information processing method
Abstract
An information access apparatus has an activation state
permitting an information access to a recording medium, and a
non-activation state permitting a change to the activation state.
The apparatus comprises: a medium access section that permits, in
the activation state, information access and ejection of the
recording medium out of the information access apparatus; an
instruction operating section that receives instruction operation
for instructing the ejection of the recording medium; and an
activation control section that controls change from the
non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded, change from the non-activation state to the activation
state is permitted in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded, change from the non-activation
state to the activation state is inhibited.
Inventors: |
Kimura; Masatoshi;
(Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Fujitsu Limited of Kawasaki,
Japan
|
Family ID: |
39669072 |
Appl. No.: |
11/902320 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.001; 707/E17.008 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 19/10 20130101;
G11B 19/2072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/1 ;
707/E17.008 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 2006 |
JP |
2006-352825 |
Claims
1. An information access apparatus having an activation state
permitting an information access to a recording medium on which
information is recorded, and a non-activation state permitting a
change to the activation state in response to a predetermined
operation, the information access apparatus comprising: a medium
access section on which the recording medium is loaded, the medium
access section permitting, in the activation state, the information
access to the recording medium and an ejection of the recording
medium out of the information access apparatus; an instruction
operating section that receives an instruction operation for
instructing the ejection of the recording medium by the medium
access section; and an activation control section that controls a
change from the non-activation state to the activation state of the
information access apparatus in such a manner that when the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section, it is
permitted that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state in response to
reception of the instruction operation by the instruction operating
section, and when the recording medium is not loaded on the medium
access section, it is inhibited that the information access
apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the activation
state.
2. An information access apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the activation control section is able to set up arbitrarily a
trigger to change the information access apparatus from the
non-activation state to the activation state, and the information
access apparatus further comprises: a non-activation control
section that changes the information access apparatus from the
activation state to the non-activation state in response to a
predetermined operation; and a load confirmation section that
confirms as to whether the recording medium is loaded on the medium
access section when the non-activation control section changes the
information access apparatus from the activation state to the
non-activation state, and sets up a receipt of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section as a trigger to
change the information access apparatus from the non-activation
state to the activation state to the activation control section
when it is confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the
medium access section.
3. An information access apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the information access apparatus further comprises a power source
section that supplies an activation-time electric power necessary
at time of the activation state of the information access
apparatus, and supplies a non-activation-time electric power
necessary at time of the non-activation state of the information
access apparatus, the non-activation-time electric power being
lower than the activation-time electric power, the medium access
section is operative upon receipt of the activation-time electric
power from the power source section, and the activation control
section changes the information access apparatus from the
non-activation state to the activation state by switching electric
power supplied by the power source section from the
non-activation-time electric power to the activation-time electric
power.
4. An information access apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the information access apparatus further comprises a display
section that indicates a matter that the recording medium is not
loaded on the medium access section in such a way that the matter
can be confirmed from the outside of the information access
apparatus, when the activation control section inhibits change of
the information access apparatus from the non-activation state to
the activation state.
5. An information processing apparatus having an activation state
permitting an information access to a recording medium on which
information is recorded, and a non-activation state permitting a
change to the activation state in response to a predetermined
operation, the information access apparatus comprising: a medium
access section on which the recording medium is loaded, the medium
access section permitting, in the activation state, the information
access to the recording medium and an ejection of the recording
medium out of the information access apparatus; an instruction
operating section that receives an instruction operation for
instructing the ejection of the recording medium by the medium
access section; an activation control section that controls a
change from the non-activation state to the activation state of the
information processing apparatus in such a manner that when the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section, it is
permitted that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state in response to
reception of the instruction operation by the instruction operating
section, and when the recording medium is not loaded on the medium
access section, it is inhibited that the information access
apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the activation
state; and a processing section that processes information accessed
by the medium access section.
6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the activation control section is able to set up
arbitrarily a trigger to change the information access apparatus
from the non-activation state to the activation state, and the
information processing apparatus further comprises: a
non-activation control section that changes the information
processing apparatus from the activation state to the
non-activation state in response to a predetermined operation; and
a load confirmation section that confirms as to whether the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section when the
non-activation control section changes the information processing
apparatus from the activation state to the non-activation state,
and sets up a receipt of the instruction operation by the
instruction operating section as a trigger to change the
information access apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state to the activation control section when it is
confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the medium access
section.
7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a
power source section that supplies an activation-time electric
power necessary at time of the activation state of the information
processing apparatus, and supplies a non-activation-time electric
power necessary at time of the non-activation state of the
information processing apparatus, the non-activation-time electric
power being lower than the activation-time electric power, the
medium access section is operative upon receipt of the
activation-time electric power from the power source section, and
the activation control section changes the information access
apparatus from the non-activation state to the activation state by
switching electric power supplied by the power source section from
the non-activation-time electric power to the activation-time
electric power.
8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a
display section that indicates a matter that the recording medium
is not loaded on the medium access section in such a way that the
matter can be confirmed from the outside of the information
processing apparatus, when the activation control section inhibits
change of the information processing apparatus from the
non-activation state to the activation state.
9. An information access program storage medium storing an
information access program which causes a computer to operate as an
information access apparatus having an activation state permitting
an information access to a recording medium on which information is
recorded, and a non-activation state permitting a change to the
activation state in response to a predetermined operation, the
information access apparatus comprising: a medium access section on
which the recording medium is loaded, the medium access section
permitting, in the activation state, the information access to the
recording medium and an ejection of the recording medium out of the
information access apparatus; an instruction operating section that
receives an instruction operation for instructing the ejection of
the recording medium by the medium access section; and an
activation control section that controls a change from the
non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that the
information access apparatus changes from the non-activation state
to the activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded on the medium access section, it is
inhibited that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state.
10. An information access program storage medium according to claim
9, wherein the activation control section is able to set up
arbitrarily a trigger to change the information access apparatus
from the non-activation state to the activation state, and the
information access apparatus further comprises: a non-activation
control section that changes the information access apparatus from
the activation state to the non-activation state in response to a
predetermined operation; and a load confirmation section that
confirms as to whether the recording medium is loaded on the medium
access section when the non-activation control section that changes
the information access apparatus from the activation state to the
non-activation state, and sets up a receipt of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section as a trigger to
change the information access apparatus from the non-activation
state to the activation state to the activation control section
when it is confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the
medium access section.
11. An information access program storage medium according to claim
9, wherein the information access apparatus further comprises a
power source section that supplies an activation-time electric
power necessary at time of the activation state of the information
access apparatus, and supplies a non-activation-time electric power
necessary at time of the non-activation state of the information
access apparatus, the non-activation-time electric power being
lower than the activation-time electric power, the medium access
section is operative upon receipt of the activation-time electric
power from the power source section, and the activation control
section changes the information access apparatus from the
non-activation state to the activation state by switching electric
power supplied by the power source section from the
non-activation-time electric power to the activation-time electric
power.
12. An information access program storage medium according to claim
9, wherein the information access apparatus further comprises a
display section that indicates a matter that the recording medium
is not loaded on the medium access section in such a way that the
matter can be confirmed from the outside of the information access
apparatus, when the activation control section inhibits change of
the information access apparatus from the non-activation state to
the activation state.
13. An information access method in an information access apparatus
having an activation state permitting an information access to a
recording medium on which information is recorded, and a
non-activation state permitting a change to the activation state in
response to a predetermined operation, the information access
method comprising: an instruction operating step that receives an
instruction operation for instructing the ejection of the recording
medium by a medium access section on which the recording medium is
loaded, the medium access section permitting, in the activation
state, the information access to the recording medium and an
ejection of the recording medium out of the information access
apparatus; and an activation control step that controls a change
from the non-activation state to the activation state of the
information access apparatus in such a manner that when the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section, it is
permitted that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state in response to
reception of the instruction operation by the instruction operating
section, and when the recording medium is not loaded on the medium
access section, it is inhibited that the information access
apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the activation
state.
14. An information access method according to claim 13, wherein the
activation control step is able to set up arbitrarily a trigger to
change the information access apparatus from the non-activation
state to the activation state, and the information access method
further comprises: a non-activation control step that changes the
information access apparatus from the activation state to the
non-activation state in response to a predetermined operation; and
a load confirmation step that confirms as to whether the recording
medium is loaded on the medium access section when the
non-activation control section changes the information access
apparatus from the activation state to the non-activation state,
and sets up a receipt of the instruction operation by the
instruction operating section as a trigger to change the
information access apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state to the activation control section when it is
confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the medium access
section.
15. An information access method according to claim 13, wherein the
information access method further comprises a power source step
that supplies an activation-time electric power necessary at time
of the activation state of the information access apparatus, and
supplies a non-activation-time electric power necessary at time of
the non-activation state of the information access apparatus, the
non-activation-time electric power being lower than the
activation-time electric power, the medium access section is
operative upon receipt of the activation-time electric power in the
power source step, and the activation control step changes the
information access apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state by switching electric power supplied in the power
source step from the non-activation-time electric power to the
activation-time electric power.
16. An information access method according to claim 15, wherein the
information access method further comprises a display step that
indicates a matter that the recording medium is not loaded on the
medium access section in such a way that the matter can be
confirmed from the outside of the information access apparatus,
when the activation control step inhibits change of the information
access apparatus from the non-activation state to the activation
state.
17. An information processing method in an information access
apparatus having an activation state permitting an information
access to a recording medium on which information is recorded, and
a non-activation state permitting a change to the activation state
in response to a predetermined operation, the information
processing method comprising: an instruction operating step that
receives an instruction operation for instructing the ejection of
the recording medium by a medium access section on which the
recording medium is loaded, the medium access section permitting,
in the activation state, the information access to the recording
medium and an ejection of the recording medium out of the
information access apparatus; an activation control step that
controls a change from the non-activation state to the activation
state of the information access apparatus in such a manner that
when the recording medium is loaded on the medium access section,
it is permitted that the information access apparatus changes from
the non-activation state to the activation state in response to
reception of the instruction operation by the instruction operating
section, and when the recording medium is not loaded on the medium
access section, it is inhibited that the information access
apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the activation
state; and a processing step that processes information accessed by
the medium access section.
18. An information processing method according to claim 17, wherein
the activation control step is able to set up arbitrarily a trigger
to change the information access apparatus from the non-activation
state to the activation state, and the information processing
method further comprises: a non-activation control step that
changes the information access apparatus from the activation state
to the non-activation state in response to a predetermined
operation; and a load confirmation step that confirms as to whether
the recording medium is loaded on the medium access section when
the non-activation control step changes the information access
apparatus from the activation state to the non-activation state,
and sets up a receipt of the instruction operation by the
instruction operating step as a trigger to change the information
processing apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state to the activation control step when it is
confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the medium access
section.
19. An information processing method according to claim 17, wherein
the information processing method further comprises a power source
step that supplies an activation-time electric power necessary at
time of the activation state of the information processing
apparatus, and supplies a non-activation-time electric power
necessary at time of the non-activation state of the information
processing apparatus, the non-activation-time electric power being
lower than the activation-time electric power, the medium access
section is operative upon receipt of the activation-time electric
power in the power source step, and the activation control step
changes the information processing apparatus from the
non-activation state to the activation state by switching electric
power supplied in the power source step from the
non-activation-time electric power to the activation-time electric
power.
20. An information processing method according to claim 17, wherein
the information processing method further comprises a display step
that indicates a matter that the recording medium is not loaded on
the medium access section in such a way that the matter can be
confirmed from the outside of the information processing apparatus,
when the activation control step inhibits change of the information
processing apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an information access
apparatus for performing an information access to storage medium
storing information, an information processing apparatus, an
information access program storage medium, an information access
method, and an information processing method.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Recently, as an auxiliary recording medium for recording
information in an information access apparatus such as a personal
computer, CD-ROM and DVD that the access speed is high-speed, which
are mass storage devices, have been widely used. According to those
storage or recording devices, in order to prevent the accident to
which the recording medium is taken out in the high velocity
revolution and data is destroyed, when an ejection button provided
with equipment is depressed, the recording medium is ejected after
the revolution of the recording medium is completely stopped.
[0005] By the way, the power saving in addition to the speed-up of
the information access has been strongly demanded for the personal
computer etc. As a method of meeting this demand, there is proposed
a method in which it has a usual activation mode wherein
information is accessed, and a standby mode that is lower in power
consumption than that of the activation mode, the standby mode
being adapted to shift to the activation mode upon receipt of the
mouse operation from a user, and it shifts a mode from the
activation mode to the standby mode in the event that the user
issues a mode shift instruction, or in the event that neither the
mouse operation nor detaching of the recording medium are performed
over a prescribed time. Japanese Patent Application Laid Open
Gazette TokuKai. 2006-92627 discloses a technology in which when a
recording medium is loaded into an information access apparatus, it
returns from the standby mode to the activation mode. Japanese
Patent Application Laid Open Gazette TokuKai. 2004-206530 discloses
a technology in which it shifts from the activation mode to the
standby mode while the recording medium is loaded into the
information access apparatus. According to the technology disclosed
in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Gazette TokuKai.
2006-92627, it is possible to effectively change the modes between
the activation mode and the standby mode in response to trigger
which are generated at the time when the recording medium is put on
and taken out. According to the technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid Open Gazette TokuKai. 2004-206530, it is
possible to save trouble for taking out the recording medium to
shift from the activation mode to the standby mode, and the return
processing from the standby mode to the activation mode can be done
in speed-up.
[0006] Moreover, it is general that the ejection button mentioned
above not only is pushed to eject the recording medium but also two
or more triggers are prepared like instruction of the recording
medium's exhaust on the display screen. Japanese Patent Application
Laid Open Gazette TokuKai. 2005-222679 discloses a technology in
which ejection/load of the recording medium is performed in
accordance with a state change of each two or more switches, and,
in addition, a technology that stop/continuation of the power
supply is automatically performed in accordance with the state of
those switches. According to the technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid Open Gazette TokuKai. 2005-222689, power
consumption can surely be suppressed even in a case where
ejection/load of the recording medium is performed by various
methods.
[0007] However, according to the conventional information access
apparatus, there are often associated with types such as a type
that the recording medium is not ejected with the turn off of the
power supply even if the ejection button is depressed to take out
the recording medium forgot to take after the power supply is
turned off, and a type that the power supply of the information
access apparatus inadvertently rises even if the ejection button is
erroneously depressed. Thus, there are problems such a problem that
it is made wait until the power supply of the information access
apparatus rises in the state that the ejection button can be
depressed after it turns on, and a problem that the electric power
is uselessly consumed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an information access apparatus capable of
suppressing power consumption and also capable of quickly ejecting
recording medium, an information processing apparatus, an
information access program storage medium, an information access
method, and an information processing method.
[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an information access apparatus having an
activation state permitting an information access to a recording
medium on which information is recorded, and a non-activation state
permitting a change to the activation state in response to a
predetermined operation, the information access apparatus
comprising:
[0010] a medium access section on which the recording medium is
loaded, the medium access section permitting, in the activation
state, the information access to the recording medium and an
ejection of the recording medium out of the information access
apparatus;
[0011] an instruction operating section that receives an
instruction operation for instructing the ejection of the recording
medium by the medium access section; and
[0012] an activation control section that controls a change from
the non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that the
information access apparatus changes from the non-activation state
to the activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded on the medium access section, it is
inhibited that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state.
[0013] According to the information access apparatus of the present
invention as mentioned above, when the recording medium is loaded
on the medium access section, it is permitted that the information
access apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the
activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section. This feature makes
it possible to quickly eject the recording medium in response to
the operation. And when the recording medium is not loaded on the
medium access section, it is inhibited that the information access
apparatus changes from the non-activation state to the activation
state, even if the instruction operation is applied. This feature
makes it possible to avoid such troublesomeness that the medium
access section is uselessly driven. Thus, it is possible to
suppress power consumption.
[0014] In the information access apparatus according to the present
invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the activation
control section is able to set up arbitrarily a trigger to change
the information access apparatus from the non-activation state to
the activation state, and the information access apparatus further
comprises:
[0015] a non-activation control section that changes the
information access apparatus from the activation state to the
non-activation state in response to a predetermined operation;
and
[0016] a load confirmation section that confirms as to whether the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section when the
non-activation control section changes the information access
apparatus from the activation state to the non-activation state,
and sets up a receipt of the instruction operation by the
instruction operating section as a trigger to change the
information access apparatus from the non-activation state to the
activation state to the activation control section when it is
confirmed that the recording medium is loaded on the medium access
section.
[0017] According to the information access apparatus as mentioned
above, the load confirmation section confirms as to whether the
recording medium is loaded on the medium access section when the
non-activation control section changes the information access
apparatus from the activation state to the non-activation state.
This feature makes it possible to avoid such troublesomeness that
the power source turns on to confirm loading of the recording
medium uselessly. Thus, it is possible to suppress power
consumption.
[0018] In the information access apparatus according to the present
invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the information
access apparatus further comprises a power source section that
supplies an activation-time electric power necessary at time of the
activation state of the information access apparatus, and supplies
a non-activation-time electric power necessary at time of the
non-activation state of the information access apparatus, the
non-activation-time electric power being lower than the
activation-time electric power,
[0019] the medium access section is operative upon receipt of the
activation-time electric power from the power source section,
and
[0020] the activation control section changes the information
access apparatus from the non-activation state to the activation
state by switching electric power supplied by the power source
section from the non-activation-time electric power to the
activation-time electric power.
[0021] Switching the electric power to be supplied from the power
source section to the medium access section makes it possible to
readily switch a mode between the activation state and the
non-activation state.
[0022] In the information access apparatus according to the present
invention as mentioned above, it is preferable that the information
access apparatus further comprises a display section that indicates
a matter that the recording medium is not loaded on the medium
access section in such a way that the matter can be confirmed from
the outside of the information access apparatus, when the
activation control section inhibits change of the information
access apparatus from the non-activation state to the activation
state.
[0023] According to the information access apparatus as mentioned
above, a user can confirm a matter that the recording medium is not
loaded on the medium access section. This feature makes it possible
to avoid such user's misunderstanding that the apparatus does not
activate though the recording medium is loaded on the medium access
section.
[0024] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an information processing apparatus having an
activation state permitting an information access to a recording
medium on which information is recorded, and a non-activation state
permitting a change to the activation state in response to a
predetermined operation, the information access apparatus
comprising:
[0025] a medium access section on which the recording medium is
loaded, the medium access section permitting, in the activation
state, the information access to the recording medium and an
ejection of the recording medium out of the information access
apparatus;
[0026] an instruction operating section that receives an
instruction operation for instructing the ejection of the recording
medium by the medium access section;
[0027] an activation control section that controls a change from
the non-activation state to the activation state of the information
processing apparatus in such a manner that when the recording
medium is loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that
the information access apparatus changes from the non-activation
state to the activation state in response to reception of the
instruction operation by the instruction operating section, and
when the recording medium is not loaded on the medium access
section, it is inhibited that the information access apparatus
changes from the non-activation state to the activation state;
and
[0028] a processing section that processes information accessed by
the medium access section.
[0029] According to the information access apparatus as mentioned
above, it is possible to suppress power consumption and quickly
eject the recording medium.
[0030] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an information access program storage medium
storing an information access program which causes a computer to
operate as an information access apparatus having an activation
state permitting an information access to a recording medium on
which information is recorded, and a non-activation state
permitting a change to the activation state in response to a
predetermined operation, the information access apparatus
comprising:
[0031] a medium access section on which the recording medium is
loaded, the medium access section permitting, in the activation
state, the information access to the recording medium and an
ejection of the recording medium out of the information access
apparatus;
[0032] an instruction operating section that receives an
instruction operation for instructing the ejection of the recording
medium by the medium access section; and
[0033] an activation control section that controls a change from
the non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that the
information access apparatus changes from the non-activation state
to the activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded on the medium access section, it is
inhibited that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state.
[0034] According to the information access program storage medium
as mentioned above, it is possible to construct on a computer an
information access apparatus capable of suppressing power
consumption and quickly ejecting the recording medium.
[0035] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an information access method in an information
access apparatus having an activation state permitting an
information access to a recording medium on which information is
recorded, and a non-activation state permitting a change to the
activation state in response to a predetermined operation, the
information access method comprising:
[0036] an instruction operating step that receives an instruction
operation for instructing the ejection of the recording medium by a
medium access section on which the recording medium is loaded, the
medium access section permitting, in the activation state, the
information access to the recording medium and an ejection of the
recording medium out of the information access apparatus; and
[0037] an activation control step that controls a change from the
non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that the
information access apparatus changes from the non-activation state
to the activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded on the medium access section, it is
inhibited that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state.
[0038] To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present
invention provides an information processing method in an
information access apparatus having an activation state permitting
an information access to a recording medium on which information is
recorded, and a non-activation state permitting a change to the
activation state in response to a predetermined operation, the
information processing method comprising:
[0039] an instruction operating step that receives an instruction
operation for instructing the ejection of the recording medium by a
medium access section on which the recording medium is loaded, the
medium access section permitting, in the activation state, the
information access to the recording medium and an ejection of the
recording medium out of the information access apparatus;
[0040] an activation control step that controls a change from the
non-activation state to the activation state of the information
access apparatus in such a manner that when the recording medium is
loaded on the medium access section, it is permitted that the
information access apparatus changes from the non-activation state
to the activation state in response to reception of the instruction
operation by the instruction operating section, and when the
recording medium is not loaded on the medium access section, it is
inhibited that the information access apparatus changes from the
non-activation state to the activation state; and
[0041] a processing step that processes information accessed by the
medium access section.
[0042] According to the information access method and the
information processing method as mentioned above, it is possible to
suppress power consumption and quickly eject the recording
medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a personal
computer, to which an embodiment of an information access apparatus
of the present invention is applied.
[0044] FIG. 2 is a hardware structural view of the personal
computer.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a view useful for understanding an example of the
hierarchical relation between hardware and software in the personal
computer.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a view showing main elements of the personal
computer.
[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart useful for understanding a series of
processing wherein a mode is changed over.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a structural view of a contact portion of a click
drive 25 and a connector.
[0049] FIG. 7 is a flowchart useful for understanding a series of
processing wherein an ejection switch is depressed in states of
"sleep mode", "rest mode", and "power source off mode".
[0050] FIG. 8 is an illustration useful for understanding a flow of
an instruction where a disk medium is mounted.
[0051] FIG. 9 is a flowchart useful for understanding a series of
processing wherein a mode is returned from "sleep mode", "rest
mode", and "power source off mode" to "activation mode".
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0052] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0053] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a personal
computer, to which an embodiment of an information access apparatus
of the present invention is applied.
[0054] A personal computer 10 of the present embodiment is provided
with an activation mode in which an information access is
performed, a sleep mode in which when operation with mouse and
keyboard is not input over a prescribed time, a display screen is
turned off to save power consumption less than that of the
activation mode, a rest mode in which upon receipt of a mode change
instruction from a user, individual sorts of processing in the
personal computer 10 are temporarily stopped to save power
consumption further less than that of the sleep mode, and a power
source off mode in which a power source is turned off. A change
over of those modes makes it possible to suppress the power
consumption. Also in the rest mode and the power source off mode,
an electric power is partially always supplied to the personal
computer 10. Therefore, it is possible to accept depression of the
power source button. Thus, when the power source button is
depressed in the rest mode, the display screen is returned to the
state before the rest mode. When the power source button is
depressed in the power source off mode, the OS is activated over
again.
[0055] The personal computer 10 comprises, on an external
appearance, a main frame unit 11, a display unit 12 for displaying
various sorts of information on a display screen 12a in accordance
with an instruction from the main frame unit 21, a keyboard 13 for
inputting various sorts of information to the main frame unit 11 in
accordance with a key operation, and a mouse 14 for inputting an
instruction according to, for example, an icon and the like,
through designation of an optional position on the display screen
12a, the icon and the like being displayed on the position on the
display screen 12a. The main frame unit 11 has a floppy disk (FD)
mounting slot 11a for mounting a floppy disk (FD), a FD switch 28a
for ejecting a FD mounted on the FD mounting slot 11a, a disk
mounting slot 11b for mounting a disk medium (for example, CD-ROM
and DVD), an ejection switch 28b for ejecting a disk medium mounted
on the disk mounting slot 11b, a power source switch 28c for
switching turn on and off of the power source of the personal
computer 10, and a LED 10a that informs of the fact that no disk
medium is mounted on the disk mounting slot 11b. The LED 10a
corresponds to an example of the display section referred to in the
present invention. The ejection switch 28b corresponds to an
example of the instruction operating section referred to in the
present invention.
[0056] According to the present embodiment, there is loaded a
slot-in-type of disk device in which a disk medium is directly
inserted into the disk mounting slot 11b for loading, and when the
ejection switch 28b is depressed, the disk medium is ejected from
the disk mounting slot 11b. Sorts of the disk medium are associated
with applications, respectively, beforehand. When the disk medium
is loaded onto the disk mounting slot 11b, the associated
application is executed. According to the present embodiment, when
the CD-ROM is loaded, a music playback application for reproducing
a music recorded on the CD-ROM is executed, and when the DVD is
loaded, a dynamic picture image audiovisual application for viewing
a dynamic picture image recorded on the DVD is executed.
[0057] FIG. 2 is a hardware structural view of the personal
computer.
[0058] The main frame unit 11 comprises, in addition to the display
unit 12, the keyboard 13, and the mouse 14 as also shown in FIG. 1,
a CPU 21 for controlling the personal computer 10 in its entirety,
a main memory 22 in which a program stored in a hard disk unit 23
is read out and developed for execution by the CPU 21, the hard
disk unit 23 for saving various types of programs and data, an FD
drive 24 for accessing a floppy disk (FD) 30 mounted thereon, a
disk drive 25 for accessing a disk medium 40 mounted thereon, an
input/output interface 26 connected to various types of devices to
receive and transmit various types of data, a power source unit 27
for supplying electric power to individual elements of the personal
computer 10, various types of switches 28 including the FD switch
28a, the ejection switch 28b, and the power source switch 28c shown
in FIG. 1, a north bridge 29b for controlling transmission of data
among individual elements (the CPU 21, the main memory 22, the hard
disk unit 23, the display unit 12, and the input/output interface
26) which appear at the left side of FIG. 2, and a south bridge 29a
for controlling transmission of data among individual elements (the
LED 10a, the keyboard 13, the mouse 14, the FD drive 24, the disk
drive 25, the power source unit 27, and the switches 28) which
appear at the right side of FIG. 2. These various types of elements
are mutually connected via a bus 15. Transmission of data is
performed also between the north bridge 29b and the south bridge
29a. An instruction from the CPU 21 is transmitted via the north
bridge 29b and the south bridge 29a to the various types of
elements. The power source unit 27 corresponds to an example of the
power source section referred to in the present invention. The disk
drive 25 corresponds to an example of the medium access section
referred to in the present invention. The disk medium 40
corresponds to an example of the recording medium referred to in
the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 3 is a view useful for understanding an example of the
hierarchical relation between hardware and software in the personal
computer.
[0060] FIG. 3 shows the hierarchical relation including automatic
application activation utility 62 for automatically activating an
application according to a type of the disk medium.
[0061] The personal computer 10 is provided with various sorts of
software 60 (including firmware) on various sorts of hardware 70 as
shown in FIG. 3. On the hardware 70, there exists BIOS 65
consisting of programs for performing initialization and control of
the hardware 70. On the BIOS 65, there exist an operation system
(OS) 64 for activating the personal computer 10, a driver program
63 for providing a control interface for utilization of the
hardware 70 by an application 61, the automatic application
activation utility 62 for automatically activating the application
61, and the application 61 such as the above mentioned music
playback application and dynamic picture image audiovisual
application.
[0062] The above-mentioned description is concerned with the basic
structure of the personal computer 10. Next, there will be
explained the mode switching.
[0063] FIG. 4 is a view showing main elements of the personal
computer.
[0064] As seen from FIG. 4, the personal computer 10 further
comprises, in addition to the power source unit 27, the disk drive
25, the display unit 12, the CPU 21, the main memory 22, the south
bridge 29a, and the north bridge 29b, which are shown in FIG. 2,
the ejection switch 28b included in the switch 28, and a connector
110 for connecting the power source unit 27, the disk drive 25 and
the switch 28 with the south bridge 29a. In the hierarchical
relation shown in FIG. 3, the hardware 70 of FIG. 3 corresponds to
the south bridge 29a shown in FIG. 4. The BIOS 65 of FIG. 3 is
constructed in the connector 110 of FIG. 4. The OS 64, the driver
63, and the automatic application activation utility 62 are
constructed in the south bridge 29a. The application 61 is
constructed in the CPU 21. The south bridge 29a corresponds to an
example of the activation control section referred to in the
present invention, and an example of the non-activation control
section referred to in the present invention as well.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a flowchart useful for understanding a series of
processing wherein a mode is changed over.
[0066] The south bridge 29a monitors a trigger for switching the
activation mode, the sleep mode, the rest mode, and the power
source off mode. According to the present embodiment, when a user
depresses the power source switch 28c shown in FIG. 1 in the state
that the personal computer 10 is activated, the mode is changed to
the "power source off mode" for turning off the power source. When
the user instructs a mode change to the "rest mode" using the mouse
14 and the like, the mode is changed to the "rest mode" in which
processing to be executed by the personal computer 10 is rested. In
the event that the user does not perform the mouse operation or the
keyboard operation more than prescribed time, the mode is changed
to the "sleep mode" in which the display screen is turned off. In
the event that the user performs the mouse operation or the
keyboard operation in the "sleep mode", or the user depresses the
power source switch 28c in the "rest mode", the mode is changed to
the "activation mode" in which the information access is
permissible. When triggers are generated, the trigger is
transmitted via the south bridge 29a and the north bridge 29b to
the CPU 100. The CPU 100 determines the switching mode in
accordance with the transmitted triggers, and instructs switching
to the determined mode to individual elements constructing the
personal computer 10 via the north bridge 29b (step S11 of FIG.
5).
[0067] When the mode change is instructed, the BIOS 65, which is
constructed in the connector 110, confirms whether the disk medium
40 is loaded onto the click drive 25 (step S12 of FIG. 5).
[0068] FIG. 6 is a structural view of a contact portion of a click
drive 25 and a connector.
[0069] When the disk medium 40 is loaded onto the click drive 25, a
loading switch 120 switches on, so that it is transmitted to the
connector 110 that a pin 130, which is associated with information
of "loading of the disk medium 40" beforehand, turns on. When the
pin 130 turns on, the BIOS 65 of the connector 110 transmits to the
south bridge 29a shown in FIG. 3 a slot turn-on signal indicative
of the fact that the disk medium 40 is loaded. When south bridge
29a receives the slot turn-on signal, it sets up a slot turn-on
flag indicative of the loading state ("1: loading", "0:
non-loading") of the disk medium 40 prepared in the incorporated
non-volatile storage (register) to "1: loading".
[0070] Returning to FIG. 5, the explanation will be explained.
[0071] When the mode change is instructed, the BIOS 65 obtains the
value of the slot turn-on flag from the south bridge 29a. In the
event that the slot turn-on flag is the "1: loading" (step S12 of
FIG. 5: Yes), the BIOS 65 sets up an ejection flag indicative of
permission/non-permission ("1: permission", "0: non-permission") of
the ejection of the disk medium 40 by depression of the ejection
switch 28b, which is prepared in the south bridge 29a, to "1:
permission", and sets up an automatic application flag indicative
of permission/non-permission ("1: permission", "0: non-permission")
of the activation of the automatic application, to "0:
non-permission". In the event that the slot turn-on flag is the "0:
non-loading" (step S12 of FIG. 5: No), the BIOS 65 sets up the
ejection flag to "0: non-permission", and sets up the automatic
application flag to "1: permission".
[0072] When every flag is renewed, the south bridge 29a controls
electric power to be supplied from the power source unit 27 to
individual elements shown in the right side of FIG. 2 in accordance
with the mode change instruction transmitted from the CPU 100, and
north bridge 29b controls electric power to be supplied from the
power source unit 27 to individual elements shown in the left side
of FIG. 2 in accordance with the mode change instruction
transmitted from the CPU 100 (step S15 of FIG. 2). According to the
present embodiment, when the mode change to the "activation mode"
is instructed, the electric power to be supplied from the power
source unit 27 to individual elements shown in FIG. 2 is regulated
to a predetermined usual electric power. When the mode change to
the "sleep mode" is instructed, the electric power to be supplied
from the power source unit 27 to the display unit 12 and the disk
drive 25 is stopped. When the mode change to the "rest mode" is
instructed, the electric power, that is lower than the usual
electric power, is supplied to the south bridge 29a and connector
110, and the power supply to other individual elements is stopped.
When the mode change to the "power source off mode" is instructed,
the power supply to the whole elements shown in FIG. 3 is
stopped.
[0073] The mode change is executed in the manner as mentioned
above.
[0074] When the ejection switch 28b is depressed in the state of
the "sleep mode", the "rest mode", or the "power source off mode",
the disk drive 25 may rise though the disk medium is absent, so
that the electric power is uselessly consumed. To the contrary, in
the event that the disk medium is not ejected though the ejection
switch 28b is depressed, even if the disk medium is present, there
is a need to turn on the power source over again and in addition
depress the ejection switch 28b over again. This involves a problem
that it takes a great deal of time. Hereinafter there will be
explained processing wherein the ejection switch 28b is
depressed.
[0075] FIG. 7 is a flowchart useful for understanding a series of
processing wherein an ejection switch is depressed in states of
"sleep mode", "rest mode", and "power source off mode".
[0076] When a user depresses the ejection switch 28b in the state
of the "sleep mode", the "rest mode", or the "power source off
mode", the information is transmitted via the connector 110 to the
south bridge 29a (step S21 of FIG. 7).
[0077] The south bridge 29a obtains the ejection flag indicative of
permission/non-permission of the ejection of the disk medium 40 by
depression of the ejection switch 28b. In the event that the
ejection flag is the "1: permission" (step S22 of FIG. 7: Yes), the
south bridge 29a initializes the value of the ejection flag ("0:
non-permission"), and also initializes ("1: permission") the value
of the automatic application flag (step S23 of FIG. 7: Yes). In the
event that the mode is the "sleep mode" (step S24 of FIG. 7: Yes),
the south bridge 29a regulates the electric power to be supplied
from the power source unit 27 to the disk drive 25 to an ejection
power capable of ejecting the disk medium, and transmits an output
instruction signal via the connector 110 to the disk drive 25 so as
to eject the disk medium (step S25 of FIG. 7: Yes). In the event
that the mode is "rest mode", and the "power source off mode" other
than the "sleep mode" (step S24 of FIG. 7: No), the south bridge
29a supplies the usual electric power from the power source unit 27
to the personal computer 10 in its entirety after the ejection of
the disk medium, and switches the mode to the "activation mode"
(step S26 of FIG. 7).
[0078] In the step S22 of FIG. 7, when the ejection flag is "0:
non-permission" (step S22 of FIG. 7: No), the south bridge 29a does
not eject the disk medium and causes the LED 10a to emit light
(step S27 of FIG. 7), and informs the user of a message that "the
disk medium is not loaded".
[0079] Thus, according to the present embodiment, because the disk
drive 25 and the like do not start even if the ejection switch 28b
is pushed when the disk medium is not loaded, power consumption can
be decreased. On the other hand, because the personal computer 10
starts automatically only by pushing the ejection switch 28b even
if the power supply turns off when the disk medium is loaded, so
that the disk medium is ejected, it is possible to save trouble
that the user turns on the power source by himself/herself over
again and pushes the ejection switch 28b again.
[0080] Moreover, according to the present embodiment, it is
possible to return the mode from the "sleep mode", the "rest mode",
and the "power source off mode" to the "activation mode" by not
only the mouse operation and the power supply button, etc. but also
loading the disk medium. In the event that the mode is returned to
the "activation mode" in accordance with the trigger by the mouse
operation and the power supply button, the mode is restored to the
state before the "activation mode". However, in the event that the
mode is returned to the "activation mode" in accordance with the
trigger by loading the disk medium, the application according to
the sort of the disk medium is automatically activated.
Hereinafter, there will be explained a flow of processing where a
disk medium is mounted.
[0081] FIG. 8 is an illustration useful for understanding a flow of
an instruction where a disk medium is mounted. FIG. 9 is a
flowchart useful for understanding a series of processing wherein a
mode is returned from "sleep mode", "rest mode", and "power source
off mode" to "activation mode".
[0082] When there is inputted a trigger for returning the mode from
the "sleep mode", the "rest mode", and the "power source off mode"
to the "activation mode" (step S31 of FIG. 9), the trigger is
transmitted from the connector 110 to the south bridge 29a.
According to the present embodiment, when the mouse operation or
the keyboard operation is performed in the "sleep mode"; the power
source switch 28c shown in FIG. 1 is depressed in the "rest mode"
or the "power source off mode"; or the disk medium 40 is loaded,
the mode change to the "activation mode" is instructed in response
to those operations.
[0083] As explained in conjunction with FIG. 6, when the disk
medium 40 is loaded, the slot turn-on signal is transmitted via the
BIOS 65 of the connector 110 to the south bridge 29a.
[0084] The south bridge 29a obtains the trigger transmitted from
the BIOS 65 of the connector 110. The automatic application
activation utility 62, which is constructed in the south bridge
29a, obtains the value of the automatic application flag stored in
a register in the event that it receives the slot turn-on signal in
form of the trigger (step S32 of FIG. 9: Yes). In the event that
the automatic application flag is "1: permission" (step S33 of FIG.
9: Yes), the south bridge 29a supplies the usual electric power
from the power source unit 27 to the personal computer 10 in its
entirety after the ejection of the disk medium, and switches the
mode to the "activation mode" (step S34 of FIG. 9).
[0085] While the mode is changed to the "activation mode", the
automatic application activation utility 62, which is constructed
in the south bridge 29a, discriminates the sort of the disk medium
40 loaded on the click drive 25 (step S35 of FIG. 9). As mentioned
above, according to the present embodiment, "the CD-ROM and the
music playback application" and "the DVD and dynamic picture image
audiovisual application" are associated with one another,
respectively. In the automatic application activation utility 62 of
the south bridge 29a, the sort of the application, which is
associated with the discriminated sort of the disk medium 40, is
transmitted via the south bridge 29a to the CPU 21.
[0086] In the CPU 21, the application transmitted from the
automatic application activation utility 62 of the south bridge 29a
is activated (step S36 of FIG. 9). As a result, the click drive 25
automatically executes the information access to the loaded disk
medium 40.
[0087] In the event that a trigger other than the slot turn-on
signal is entered in the step S32 of FIG. 9 (step S32 of FIG. 9:
No), or in the event that the automatic application flag is "0:
non-permission" even if the slot turn-on signal is entered (step
S33 of FIG. 9: No), the south bridge 29a switches the mode to the
"activation mode" (step S37 of FIG. 9), but does not perform the
automatic activation of the application.
[0088] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the application,
which meets the disk medium, is automatically activated only when
the mode is changed to the activation mode by loading the disk
medium. Therefore, the user can access the disk medium without
doing a troublesome operation.
[0089] According to the present embodiment, there is explained, by
way of example, a slot-inter type of disk drive in which a disk
medium is directly inserted into a disk loading slot for loading.
However, it is acceptable that the medium accessing section
referred to in the present invention is one in which a recording
medium is mounted on a tray and the tray is inserted or ejected
into or from a medium loading slot.
[0090] According to the present embodiment, there is explained an
example in which an information access apparatus of the present
invention is applied to a personal computer. However, it is
acceptable that the information access apparatus of the present
invention is applied to an external information access apparatus
connected with the personal computer and the like.
[0091] According to the present invention, it is possible to
provide an information access apparatus capable of suppressing
power consumption and also capable of quickly ejecting recording
medium, an information processing apparatus, an information access
program storage medium, an information access method, and an
information processing method.
[0092] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by those embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and sprit
of the present invention.
* * * * *